London Broncos managed to get their first win of the Super League season as they beat Hull FC 34-18. It’s a win that has been celebrated across rugby league but perhaps no more than by Derek Beaumont who has used it as an excuse to reignite this spat with Hull FC.
Derek Beaumont has taken to social media arguing the need to “stand up for the game” as he’s attacked the IMG system and instead called for a return to automatic promotion and relegation.
Of course, following Hull FC’s loss to London Broncos yesterday, Hull FC would be in an incredibly perilous position if the old system existed. Yet under IMG as a Grade A club, FC are safe and Beaumont has used that as another means to take aim at his new foes.
Going back a month there were no issues between the Leopards and the Black and Whites but all that changed very quickly with the announcement of John Asiata’s signing for 2025 by Hull FC.
With the rumours quickly gaining speed, Hull FC confirmed the signing of the Leigh Leopards skipper on a huge three-year deal with wages reported to be over £200,000 per year.
The announcement shocked both Hull FC and Leigh fans equally and saw the rugby league world awaiting comment from Derek Beaumont and when he did, he didn’t disappoint.
Derek Beaumont takes aim at Hull FC and IMG
Credit: Imago Images
Addressing the Asiata deal at a hospitality event prior to Leigh’s clash with Castleford Tigers last week, Derek Beaumont went in on Hull FC as he labelled them “desperate” and questioned their conduct.
Explaining why the deal had been done to allow Asiata to exit, Beaumont attacked Hull FC and argued that they had thrown Asiata “under the bus” before further criticising them for using comments by Asiata without Leigh’s permission.
“Desperate people do desperate things and that’s what I kind of put it down to because they look pretty desperate.
“Obviously what came out with his comments doesn’t look good on John but that’s a measure of the type of club and the standards that they seem to be prepared to set themselves on conduct.”
That full rant video can be seen here, but that was just the beginning with Leigh then recalling Ed Chamberlain from his loan deal with the Black and Whites, before Derek Beaumont then playfully joked “hands off Leeto” in reference to FC’s apparent raids of the Leopards.
Whilst his Leeto comment was playful in nature, Beaumont has taken the gloves off with his latest social media post in which he’s called out the IMG system and Hull FC’s attitude to it, whilst advocating for their potential relegation.
Taking to social media, Beaumont posted: “I know let’s relegate a team that’s trying their heart out and has just beat a team that’s got rid of their players thinking they are safe as a grade A Club. A great example of why IMG scoring don’t work in this format! Let’s stand up for the game and insist on relegating the bottom team whoever that is!”
I know let’s relegate a team that’s trying their heart out and has just beat a team that’s got rid of their players thinking they are safe as a grade A Club. A great example of why IMG scoring don’t work in this format! Let’s stand up for the game and insist on relegating the…
— Derek John Beaumont (@derek_beaumont) May 12, 2024
Beaumont’s rant extends to French sides
Credit: Imago Images
Not only was Derek Beaumont in the mood to take aim at Hull FC but he also dragged in French sides such as Catalans Dragons and Toulouse Olympique.
Responding to accusations that he doesn’t know how the IMG system works, Beaumont joked that he’d been drinking “bottles” of wine, as opposed to glasses, before claiming again that promotion and relegation should exist.
He posted: “Bottles not glasses son! Let’s not also forget that we will also be bringing another french team into the league and providing 1/6 of the sports money outside our country! Which team will be relegated to accomplish that or not promoted. I am safe on IMG scoring but would not stay up if I finished bottom! BTW no wine for breakfast! ”
Bottles not glasses son!
Let’s not also forget that we will also be bringing another french team into the league and providing 1/6 of the sports money outside our country! Which team will be relegated to accomplish that or not promoted. I am safe on IMG scoring but would not… https://t.co/DCEpCZ7NwR
— Derek John Beaumont (@derek_beaumont) May 13, 2024
In a response to another fan, Beaumont accepted that the concept of improvising standards was something he agreed with, however, he was clearly unhappy with how Hull FC are operating.
Given that Hull FC was ranked as a Grade A club in the preliminary grades, it means that FC cannot possibly be relegated with the IMG wording revealing Grade A clubs are ‘exempt’ from relegation.
With that said, Beaumont has claimed that the club have “put the cue in the rack” to remain profitable and sacrifice on-field performances,
Agree with driving up standards but this is an example of the system seeing the opposite a club putting the cue in the rack cutting its playing staff to be profitable! The game we watch is in the field! That’s where to invest!
— Derek John Beaumont (@derek_beaumont) May 13, 2024
It’s evident that the war of words between the two sides isn’t over and will continue for a period to come.
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